The Provisional Government of the Republic of China (Chinese: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Línshí Zhèngfǔ, Japanese: Chūka Minkoku Rinji Seifu) was a provisional government under protection of the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War led by collaborationist politician Wang Kemin. The government was formed by the Imperial Japanese General Headquarters to serve as an administratonal oversight for the northern provinces of China that were captured by Japan. The government had little actual authority and was more of a propaganda organizaiton. However, Kemin did form a 10,000-man Provisional Government Army under Major General Xiao Shuxuan, which aided the Japanese and won a battle single-handedly against the nationalist army, the Battle of Taierzhuang.